Middle East Airlines

MEA HISTORY

In 1945, Middle East Airlines was established and launched its first service from Beirut to the neighboring cities of Syria, Cyprus, Egypt then Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other destinations in the Gulf. In 1963, after the merger with Air Liban, MEA added new European, Middle Eastern and West African destinations to its worldwide network.

Despite closure of Beirut International Airport during Lebanon’s civil war between 1975 and 1990, MEA managed to survive by leasing aircraft and seconding staff to international airline companies. With the return to normality in 1990, MEA succeeded in re-instating service to all its previous destinations, strengthened and improved its network to Europe, Middle East and the Gulf.

From 1998 to 2002, MEA implemented its largest restructuring ever, turning around the Company from huge annual losses reaching 8 Million dollars in 1997 to achieve a net profit of 22 Million dollars in 2003. In 2004, MEA achieved a net profit of 50 Million dollars. The business plan included the rationalization of MEA’s network, streamlining its purchasing policy, cost reductions at all levels of the airline, the launch of the Frequent Flyer Program and Yield Management Systems, as well as a number of other measures destined to modernize and restructure the Airline. MEA offers its customers very luxurious services both on ground and on board, reflecting the Lebanese culture and hospitality. For more information about Middle East Airlines, visit www.mea.com.lb

MEA NETWORKEurope: Paris*, London, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan, Athens, Geneva, Istanbul,
Dusseldorf**, Nice**, Copenhagen**The Gulf: Jeddah*, Riyadh, Dhahran, Dubai*, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait*Middle East: Larnaca*, Amman*, Cairo*, Sharm el Sheikh**Africa: Abidjan, Lagos, Kano, Accra* Daily flights. Paris: 3 flights/day
**Seasonal

 

NEW FLEET

MEA’s fleet consists of new Airbus Aircraft: 3 A330-200 & 6 A321-200.

Both cabins are equipped with personal video and a multitude of music and movie channels.

The interior colors of MEA’s fleet were selected to reflect the Lebanese relaxed & lively atmosphere. The aircraft cabin specifications took into consideration the needs of passengers with limited abilities.

MEA’s fleet is equipped with ventilated and temperature controlled cargo compartments for the carriage of live animals and perishable cargo.

A330-200

MEA has chosen a spacious layout for its A330, consisting of 42 J Class & 208 Y Class seats.

The A330 is equipped with state-of-the-art on-board entertainment technology, making MEA the first Airline in the Gulf and Middle East Region to launch MAS 3000 Audio Video On Demand in J Class.

The A330-200 is powered by Rolls Royce Trent 772 engines each delivering 72,000 lbs of thrust and offering one of the lowest operating costs. The A330 tremendous operating efficiency is enhanced by voluminous under-floor holds.

A321-200

MEA has chosen a spacious layout for its A321, consisting of 31J Class and 118 Y Class seats offering a total capacity of 149 seats per aircraft.

The A321 is powered by I.A.E. V2533 engines each delivering 33,000 lbs of thrust and meeting the stringent noise requirements.